Chapter 74 Yongqi's Memories

Yongqi wants to keep Xiaoyanzi in a secluded house, but this will take some time to complete, since Xiaoyanzi has always preferred freedom to staying indoors.

He was unwilling to do anything against Xiao Yanzi's wishes, so even if he wanted to, he could restrain himself as long as Xiao Yanzi was even slightly unwilling!

Yongqi remained in his room, unaware of the passage of time, until Yulei finally knocked on the door. "Valley Master, it's almost time..."

Although the words were not finished, Yongqi understood that it was time to go back, otherwise he would be questioned by Qianlong for a long time.

Yongqi walked out of the room, glanced at the time, and realized it was almost time. So, as he left the valley, he took a look at the surrounding buildings. The more he looked, the more he felt that he must bring Xiaoyanzi to Wuxiang Valley next time she came back.

"Alright, that's enough for now. I'll walk the rest of the way myself." Yu Lei escorted Yong Qi to the edge of the valley, and Yong Qi told him to go back.

Although Yu Lei was worried, he dared not disobey Yong Qi's words. "Then please be careful on your journey, Valley Master."

"Don't worry, since I was able to get here safely, I can go back safely too." After saying that, Yongqi left Wuxiang Valley on his own.

Yu Lei watched his departing figure, praying in his heart, "I hope the Valley Master can return to the palace safely!"

Yongqi returned to the scholar's residence by the same route. When Fu Erkang and Fu Ertai saw Yongqi return safely, they could finally put their minds at ease.

Fu Ertai was the first to speak up, "Fifth Prince, you're finally back! If you hadn't come back, we would have gone out to look for you."

Yongqi looked at the anxious Fu'ertai and Fu'erkang, who seemed unconcerned but actually had a furrowed brow, and comforted him, "I'm back safely, aren't I? Don't worry about me!"

"Erkang, take me to change my clothes first. I need to go back soon, otherwise Father Emperor will be looking for me."

If he returns on time, then the guards at Shenwu Gate only need to report to Emperor Qianlong; if he returns after the agreed time, then he needs to go to Qianqing Palace and report to Emperor Qianlong in person; if he takes Qing'er with him, then he naturally needs to report to the Empress Dowager in person.

After Yongqi changed back into his original clothes, the brothers Fu'erkang and Fu'ertai said they would send him back to the palace so that they could feel at ease.

"Fifth Prince, what brought you to Wuxiang Valley this time?" Fu'ertai asked Yongqi curiously. "You didn't go there specifically for Xiao Yanzi, did you?"

"Pretty much. I just want everyone in Wuxiang Valley to know just how important Xiao Yanzi is to me!"

Fu Erkang asked worriedly, "But if they don't obey Xiao Yanzi, will they still listen to you?"

Yongqi raised an eyebrow at Erkang and said, "Erkang, do you have any faith in Xiaoyanzi? With her abilities, subduing those people from Wuxiang Valley would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?"

The reason I didn't have time to take Xiao Yanzi with me before was because Xiao Yanzi wasn't strong enough. If I had taken her there rashly, it would have caused her a lot of trouble for no reason.

Conversely, once Xiao Yanzi returns from her training and her abilities have improved, going to Wuxiang Valley will be much less troublesome. Perhaps she can even subdue everyone directly!

Seeing Yongqi's complete trust in Xiaoyanzi, the Fu brothers were speechless for a moment. After seeing Yongqi off at Shenwu Gate, they watched him enter the palace. As soon as Yongqi went inside, he turned back to the Fu brothers and said, "I almost forgot, Erkang, Ertai, see you at the martial arts arena tomorrow! You can't deliberately lose to me tomorrow!"

"Understood, we will do our best!" The two brothers already knew Yongqi's personality, so they wouldn't deliberately go easy on him and make him feel disrespected.

Yongqi then walked towards Yonghe Palace. As soon as he entered, he smiled and called out, "Mother, I'm back."

Consort Yu came out happily, "Yongqi, you're back just in time. Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner."

"Okay, coming right away." After washing his hands, Yongqi went to the dining room to eat with Consort Yu. "Mother, you seem to be in a good mood today?"

"You noticed? This afternoon I went to visit Consort Shu and saw the Tenth Prince. The more I looked at him, the happier I became. Consort Shu told me, 'I wonder when you and Xiao Yanzi will finally get married.'"

“…Mother, your son is still so young, why are you already thinking about having a grandson?” Yongqi said, both amused and exasperated. “I think you should find something else to do and stop focusing on this!”

"If you hadn't already decided on Xiao Yanzi, would I be thinking about these things so early? Besides, I don't necessarily need a grandson, a granddaughter is fine too. Anyway, you'll only have children with Xiao Yanzi, and I only want to hold the children you two have. You're both still young now, so I'm just thinking about it. Otherwise, how will we live without Xiao Yanzi?"

As Consort Yu spoke, she began to sigh, "Since Xiao Yanzi left, Yonghe Palace has become much quieter. Although it seems to have returned to its former state, I'm still not used to it. Right now, I just want Xiao Yanzi to come back quickly so that Yonghe Palace can become lively again."

"Oh dear, Mother, do you really not want your son anymore now that you have a daughter-in-law? Look at you, you keep talking about Little Swallow, where is there any place for me as your son?"

Consort Yu was both amused and exasperated, and gently tapped Yongqi's forehead. "You brat, you're still jealous of Xiaoyanzi? Didn't you say it yourself? Xiaoyanzi lost her mother at a young age and wanted me to be her mother. Now I truly treat her like my own daughter, but my daughter has left the palace because of you, you brat, to go out and gain experience..."

Seeing Consort Yu's disappointed look, Yongqi comforted her, "Mother, Xiao Yanzi will send the message back whenever she has time, so we can still contact her. Next month, your birthday will be coming up again. Xiao Yanzi may not come back, but she will definitely send your gift back."

"Then tell me, how much longer will it take before I can see my precious daughter again?"

Yongqi shook his head, "I don't know either, I want to see her too..."

After dinner, Consort Yu went to rest early.

Yongqi went to Xiaoyanzi's room. Looking at Xiaoyanzi's dressing table, he recalled the scene of combing Xiaoyanzi's hair and doing her makeup. Looking at the table, he remembered the way Xiaoyanzi looked when she first drank tea. "Yongqi, why does this tea taste bitter, but after the bitterness comes sweetness?"

Yongqi asked, "So what came to mind?" Xiaoyanzi thought for a moment and said, "Bitter first, sweet later?"

Yongqi nodded, "Yes, what we're doing now is a case of 'bitter first, sweet later'..."

First, we should work hard to lay a good foundation for their future and make sufficient preparations. Then, we can ask Emperor Qianlong to issue an imperial decree to grant them a marriage. At that time, he would like to see who would dare to stop him from marrying Xiao Yanzi.

Seeing Xiao Yanzi's bed, he remembered how she used to cling to his neck and whine to him when she didn't want to get up in the morning because she slept in too late, saying, "Brother Yongqi, I just don't want to get up, please ask Master Ji for a day off..."

Yongqi couldn't resist the power of those four words, nor could he resist Xiaoyanzi's coquettish manner. So even though Xiaoyanzi was just too sleepy, he told everyone she had caught a cold. Then, Emperor Qianlong specially sent an imperial physician to examine her. Feeling guilty, Xiaoyanzi told Qianlong the truth. Upon hearing it, Qianlong laughed heartily, "So it was the Duke of Zhou (the god of dreams) pulling Xiaoyanzi into a dream! It seems, Yongqi, your allure isn't as strong as the Duke of Zhou's..."